Photographer's Note

You were so kind to my oldie from Bolivia, so another one from that trip.
There are people here on TE who like weird places and cemeteries. Chauchilla cemetery near Nazca is the weirdest place I have ever seen and I find it strange that Craig had't it on his bucket list.
The trip to Peru was my first trip organized by mysekf and I was rather unsure how it would be. Maybe the Peruvians seeing the four blond old Polish women felt pity, but they were extremely hospitable and helpful. When we were for instance in, say, A, they asked me about our plans. (My Spanish was very useful). I said: "We go to B". So they said "I have a cousin in B, if you like, I will call him and say you are coming". The same was in B, C, D, ... and all the trip went very smoothly.
When we came to Nazca, the "cousin" was waiting for us at the bus stop and everything was already prepared. The main purpose to go to Nazca was to see the famous lines from the small plane. They took us to the airport and shortly we were in the air! We were rather green on faces after half an hour flight in a small plane just for four, but we saw the lines:). And it was their idea to take us to Chauchilla. It was incredible experience. Imagine the big area with the bodies sitting there for thousand of years. It was very windy and no one in sight, only we and the driver. There was no protection of the graves - we could take the corpse and go away with it.
After this personal memories something from Wiki:

Chauchilla Cemetery is a cemetery that contains prehispanic mummified human remains and archeological artifacts, located 30 kilometres south of the city of Nazca.
The cemetery was discovered in the 1920s, but had not been used since the 9th century AD. The cemetery includes many important burials over a period of 600 to 700 years. The start of the interments was in about 200 AD. It is important as a source of archaeology to Nazca culture. The cemetery has been extensively plundered by huaqueros (grave robbers) who have left human bones and pottery scattered around the area. The site is by the Poroma riverbed and can be accessed off a dirt track from the Panamerican Highway. In 1997, the majority of the scattered bones and plundered pottery were restored to the tombs.

Yes Malgo, It is a strange photo to show, but convey the way those people live and burry their deads.
A daily-life scene in a weird (as the title suggest) disply to our "western" eyes.
Good scanned photo, nicely presented.
Ike

a good contribution to the "TE cemetery month".
things related to death and afterlife (skulls, bones, crypts, graveyards etc) never creep me out, as i see death as a barely natural phenomenon (though not yet understood). yet, i do find it interesting to see human creativity to it, many unique places and artworks addressing death have been created throughout history.
the youtube link will show you the weirdest place i have ever seen regarding the deceased (capuchin crypts in palermo). sorry that it was forbidden to take photos inside, otherwise i would have already filled TE with tens of photos from that place :)

Hi Malgo
a bizarre place and striking image. Not sure I would like this place after dark! Top marks for originality Malgo, I doubt whether there is another image like this on TE. Compelling and fascinating shot!

namaste Malgorzata Kopczynska,
it is surely a terrific shot for TE. Like how you framed the shot from higher POV. I think there are no possibilities for other lower angle. Though it looks from here just like that, how this place should be appreared to us. Good sharp image with perfect light. Excellent one. Thanks.
S

super creepy and fascinating, malgo ~
the corpse's open mouth reminds me of edvard munch's "the scream" -- perhaps he also visited this erie location ;)
i'm thankful you were brave and adventurous enough to take that plane ride instead of me.

Hi Malgo,
This is indeed avery weird picture! This is definitely a very good TE contribution with an excellent combination of an interesting picture with an equally interesting note! And I assume that this is also a scan, and as such it is very good too.
Kind regards
Gunnar
PS I am writing this on an iPad. When watching the beta version, I see that the picure has about the same size, but the text is much smaller!

Hello Malgo,
This is remarkable. It must be among the strangest pictures on TE. There are old mummies seen in many places of the world but I couldn't imagiine they were ever left unprotected like this. I can't understand how it is possible. This picture, more than most others, live up to the criteria of teaching us about the world thrpugh photography. It's a good scan as well with fine sharpnss and colours.
Kind rgards,
Gert

Having recently posted some pictures from a local cemetery, I couldn't help but be interested in this one. I think I've become part of the ghouls along with Craig and Noel. :) This is certainly something out of the ordinary....well, for most anyway...so it's always nice to see something unusual and informative. I'm intrigued that everything is left out in the open...and that these skulls appear to have been bleached...it would suggest care and respect for the remains.

Glad that your trip was safe and welcoming by the locals, that certainly says a lot about culture and accommodation of others. As you mentioned, this must have been quite an experience...not one that would be expected. Thanks for taking us along with these photo's. Have a great day ahead.

This is indeed a perfect upload for TE - just the thing to "learn about the World through photography" - and this is a very unusual and "weird" cemetery.

I have seen some pictures of this strange burial area before. But I suppose this isn't really a "burial" area at all - just an area where corpses appear to have been left exposed in their last garments to mummify in the dry air of this deserted place.

Such a pity (and disgrace) that this sacred place has been vandalised and looted over the years, but you have captured a very interesting scene and written a very interesting and comprehensive note too. For a picture which has been scanned from an older silver bromide image, the quality is excellent.

Fantastic!

Kind Regards,

John.

P.S. On a lighter and less depressing note (for we don't always wish to be reminded of our own mortality) I was pleased to hear that your knowledge of Spanish helped you a lot in Peru and that you found the local people both friendly and very hospitable - that must have been a big relief on your first big trip to foreign places!

Hi Malgo
yup, I missed out on this one!
I knew about the "Lines" but we just didn't have the time with our pre-planned Easter Island portion and the Trek and Santiago - there's only so much time i suppose.

but yes, this is certainly a spot i'd love to see some other time.

great note, great subject and shot - very creepy and cool. I'm sure myself and Noel will enjoy it! haha

Very macabre with the skulls and mummy! Makes Hamlet look tame! A good downward pov with excellent sharpness. The warm yellow earth colors contrast well against the blue grey tones. Superb shadow detail. Tfs!

Hello
I always liked to travel all over the
world and especially to Perthis shot is an original version and your notes very useful explaining
the whole composition
things related to death
have a nice weekend
regards
Costantino